What is MLK Jr. Day? Each third Monday of January celebrates Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! This occasion is only federal holiday designated as a national day of service. Avid readers have a wonderful opportunity to explore the legacy, life, and history of the Atlanta native, and continue the pursuit of equality. The campaign for a holiday in King's honor began after his assassination, in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983. MLK Jr. Day was first observed three years later, and for the first time, officially, the holiday is observed in all 50 states in 2000.
Who is Martin Luther King Jr.?
The graduate of Morehouse College is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. But King is best known for advancing non-violent, civil rights through nonviolence, and civil disobedience.
King’s life is a true reflection of his commitment of peaceful protesting, equality and social justice. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). His list of social activism includes organizing the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, at the Lincoln Memorial.
The King Family and Legacy
King lived and spent most of his childhood in the Sweet Auburn District. The King family have a beautiful and long history in the Atlanta communities. Specifically historical black neighborhoods around Atlanta and the country resonate with King’s influence.
The King family continue a legacy of Black Excellence and brilliance. King’s father, Martin Luther King Sr. was the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
MLK Jr. Day is a great opportunity, and time, to jumpstart your research on the Atlanta native.
What will you read?
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